PlayStation Mobile title Haunt the House: Terrortown sells 1100 copies in four weeks

Viva la Vita: "During the Casual Connect conference in Germany this past month, developer SFB games held a postmortem on their PlayStation Mobile title Haunt the House: Terrortown. Tom Vian shared how the studio got started working on PlayStation Mobile, as well as some of the difficulties developing on the platform, such as the SDK accepting only WMV files for audio, size restrictions, and even some fundamental stuff like playing more than one music track at a time. Despite these struggles the team only had good things to say about Sony's support of independent developers, saying that there were times where Sony's platform engineers would help them with issues. Unfortunately, in what's becoming a worrying trend, the sequel to the popular 2010 flash game has not sold well. Tom revealed that the title had only sold 1100 copies after a month of sales, counting for revenues of about $2800. The team blames the poor sales on the limited userbase of both the PlayStation Vita, and the Android Certified devices. He later went on to say that those who do own a Vita are in Japan, a market that is nearly impossible for western mobile developers to get publicity in. The company said the plan is to port the title to proper mobile platforms for release later this year.

The side-scrolling action puzzle game features five unique locations to explore, hundreds of objects to possess, and dozens of people to haunt all set to stunning score. After 66 ratings the game sits with a 4.65 review score on the PlayStation Store. It'll set you back $3.49, £2.79, or €3.49."

[sinncross]

Sony really needs to increase awareness of the PS Mobile so that it becomes more viable for developers.

I know this may sound strange, but I figure allowing the games to be used on consoles (with the choice to use Motion controls to simulate the touch screen controls if it can be used).

Gets it to more people.

[Godchild1020]

They just need to have PlayStation Mobile available in more countries and regions. It's not out everywhere, so sales will always look bad. The problem is Sony released the platform (PSM) in limited regions, holding the platform back from growing.

Just look how one day we hear how some digital games sell better on the Vita then on the PS3, but a day or two later we PSM games don't sell as well.

It all comes down to availability. The one thing I hope Sony does better next generation. Get your games to release worldwide on the same day, platforms and other services they put out, on the same day in all regions.

[Cam977]

Before doing that it is compulsory that they remove the £5 minimum spend cost. I am not putting £5 on for a £2 game. Maybe that is why the AppStore on ITunes is so successful.

Sony must do this for developers and themselves.

[GraveLord]

Or maybe people just don't find this game interesting?

[Good_Guy_Jamal]

There was so much hype and hope for PS Mobile when it was first revealed. Seems to be a flop so far.

[Karum]

I don't think that it's so much a flop as it is just not being that widely available. I love my Vita but accept it hasn't lit up the world in terms of sales. PS Mobile certified devices also aren't out there in much abundance.

There's some great stuff on PS Mobile, it's just that the platform really isn't in the hands of that many people in order to be able to grow.

If that never changes or even if it does and game sales suck, those two scenarios are where I'd call it a flop.

[dafegamer]

says the obvious xboxfanboy

[ginsunuva]

It's also not on the android market for some ungodly reason.

[mj_msv]

I am not suprised for the low sales, firstly it's not avail so many places yet, so many is not able to buy, and secoundly becouse of lack of throphies not so many bothers to buy them. If sony fix those 2 simple things they will see sales skyrocking from current sales!

[Azurite]

Never heard of the game... looks nice, will get it (if it's still available) the day I purchase a Vita.

[GreenRanger]

PlayStation Mobile isn't available in Ireland, and neither is the Video store. :-(

[NicSage]

I'm one of the people that bought it, I love it. My kids love it. It's good fun, makes you laugh at some of the things you take over.

I'd suggest getting it, it's a fun easy game.

[zoks310]

The current user base is too small for exclusive, they should have waited until the vita and psm had a bigger user base before they went exclusive to Sony. Now they have no choice but to launch on other mobile platforms.
Sony should do what they can for them financially, it would be a great way to return the favor.

[souljah45]

Didn't even know this existed. Looks awesome. Off i go for a purchase

[triplev16]

Looks pretty good. Hopefully some of this exposure will help.

[CalvinKlein]

I dont think that the "people with a vita are in Japan" excuse is a good one. Im not in Japan and I have a vita. Last I checked it was flopping over there and I hear alot of the sales have been in EU and NA so far. I just dont think anyone with a vita or phone uses PSM. I bought one game from PSM and it was good but I probably wont even look at any more until this patch trophy support for PSM I keep hearing about happens.